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Three Hamilton Pointe nursing home residents 'clinically recovered' from COVID-19

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Naomi Spurling, 82, holds a sign during a celebration parade Friday afternoon, May 22, 2020. Spurling, 82, was among the first to graduate from Hamilton Pointe's COVID-19 wing after four weeks of being cared for in isolation, a result of testing positive for the novel coronavirus. MACABE BROWN / COURIER & PRESS

Helen Miller exits the main entrance of Hamilton Pointe during a celebration parade Friday afternoon, May 22, 2020. Miller, 90, was among the first to graduate from Hamilton Pointe's COVID-19 wing after four weeks of being cared for in isolation, a result of testing positive for the novel coronavirus. MACABE BROWN / COURIER & PRESS

Helen Miller, center, Mary Jo Scott, right, and Naomi Spurling, back, parade in front of family and friends during a celebration Friday afternoon, May 22, 2020. The three women are the first to graduate from Hamilton Pointe's COVID-19 wing after four weeks of being cared for in isolation, a result of testing positive for the novel coronavirus. MACABE BROWN / COURIER & PRESS

Mary Jo Scott, right, walks in a celebration parade at Hamilton Pointe Friday afternoon, May 22, 2020. Scott, 91, was among the first to graduate from Hamilton Pointe's COVID-19 wing after four weeks of being cared for in isolation, a result of testing positive for the novel coronavirus. MACABE BROWN / COURIER & PRESS

Naomi Spurling, 82, is wheeled back to her room during a celebration parade Friday afternoon, May 22, 2020. Spurling, 82, was among the first to graduate from Hamilton Pointe's COVID-19 wing after four weeks of being cared for in isolation, a result of testing positive for the novel coronavirus. MACABE BROWN / COURIER & PRESS

Helen Miller talks on the phone with family outside her window at Hamilton Pointe during a celebration parade Friday afternoon, May 22, 2020. Miller,90, was among the first to graduate from Hamilton Pointe's COVID-19 wing after four weeks of being cared for in isolation, a result of testing positive for the novel coronavirus. MACABE BROWN / COURIER & PRESS

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Helen Miller made her family a promise when she moved into The Village at Hamilton Pointe nursing home to recover from a stroke in April.

"She said, 'I'm going to fight, fight, fight all the time,'" said her son John Schutz. "There's a strong will there."

Miller was determined to recover her health. Neither she nor her family could know then that she would also be fighting — and recovering from — COVID-19.

On Friday, Miller and two other residents, Mary Jo Scott, 91, and Naomi Spurling, 82, became the first to graduate from Hamilton Pointe's COVID-19 wing after four weeks of being cared for in isolation, a result of testing positive for the novel coronavirus.

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Helen Miller exits the main entrance of Hamilton Pointe during a celebration parade Friday afternoon, May 22, 2020. Miller, 90, was among the first to graduate from Hamilton Pointe's COVID-19 wing after four weeks of being cared for in isolation, a result of testing positive for the novel coronavirus.(Photo: MACABE BROWN / COURIER & PRESS)

Miller and the others were symbolically moved from the wing in wheelchairs Friday and returned to their regular rooms. Family and staff were invited to be present and wish them well from outside the nursing home's front entrance as caregivers wheeled them to the door of their regular nursing home.

The three residents were determined to be clinically recovered by a physician using a symptom-based strategy recommended in federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, said Shawn Cates, Hamilton Pointe's executive director.

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Helen Miller, center, waves to her daughter Cindy Schutz, left, from behind a window at The Village at Hamilton Pointe after being surprised by friends and family with a party for her 90th birthday. Due to the spread of COVID-19 the senior living community has stopped visitation from family and friends and the only form of communication has been through windows and video applications. MACABE BROWN / COURIER & PRESS

Helen Miller is surprised by friends and family with a party for her 90th birthday at The Village at Hamilton Pointe on Thursday afternoon, April 9, 2020. Due to the spread of COVID-19, the senior living community has stopped visitation from family and friends and the only form of communication has been through windows and video applications. Many loved ones joined through a streaming app to say happy birthday to Miller. MACABE BROWN / COURIER & PRESS

Helen Miller is surprised by friends and family with a party for her 90th birthday at The Village at Hamilton Pointe on Thursday afternoon, April 9, 2020. Due to the spread of COVID-19, the senior living community has stopped visitation from family and friends and the only form of communication has been through windows and video applications. MACABE BROWN / COURIER & PRESS

Friends Randy Puckett, left, and Rick Silles wish Helen Miller a happy 90th birthday at The Village at Hamilton Pointe after being surprised by friends and family. Due to the spread of COVID-19, the senior living community has stopped visitation from family and friends and the only form of communication has been through windows and video applications. MACABE BROWN / COURIER & PRESS

Helen Miller, center, waves to her daughter Cindy Schutz, left, from behind a window at The Village at Hamilton Pointe after being surprised by friends and family with a party for her 90th birthday. Due to the spread of COVID-19, the senior living community has stopped visitation from family and friends and the only form of communication has been through windows and video applications. MACABE BROWN / COURIER & PRESS

Friend Bonnie Ziebell signs a birthday card for Helen Miller at The Village at Hamilton Pointe after she was surprised by friends and family with a party for her 90th birthday. Due to the spread of COVID-19, the senior living community has stopped visitation from family and friends and the only form of communication has been through windows and video applications. MACABE BROWN / COURIER & PRESS

Helen Miller is surprised by friends and family with a party for her 90th birthday at The Village at Hamilton Pointe on Thursday afternoon, April 9, 2020. Due to the spread of COVID-19, the senior living community has stopped visitation from family and friends and the only form of communication has been through windows and video applications. MACABE BROWN / COURIER & PRESS

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He expects approximately eight more residents will be returned to their regular beds next week. Like the first three residents, although they have been medically cleared, the nursing home staff is observing them for a few days longer to be sure symptoms don't return.

He said medical staff are following the CDC guidelines for a time and symptom-based determination because the virus can still show up in patients' nasal swab tests for up to six weeks after they appear symptom-free.

However, Cates said residents who have tested positive at Hamilton Pointe are being carefully observed for at least several days after they are symptom-free and no longer contagious.

"Although there are residents that continue to fight this virus, we are encouraged at their continued improvement. We look forward to celebrating their recovery with them," Cates said. "The continued health and safety of all our Hamilton Pointe Family is our highest priority. We will continue to be diligent in our infection control practices to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19."

Miller's family has not been able to visit with her since mid-March when nursing homes nationwide put a no visitor policy in place to guard against the coronavirus spread.

Wearing masks, the family safely celebrated Miller's 90th birthday from outside her window at the Newburgh nursing home on April 9 in a creative show of love for their matriarch. Eighteen days later, Miller was diagnosed with COVID-19 and moved into isolation.

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Helen Miller, center, Mary Jo Scott, right, and Naomi Spurling, back, parade in front of family and friends during a celebration Friday afternoon, May 22, 2020. The three women are the first to graduate from Hamilton Pointe's COVID-19 wing after four weeks of being cared for in isolation, a result of testing positive for the novel coronavirus.(Photo: MACABE BROWN / COURIER & PRESS)

"When I first heard this had happened, my heart just sank," said Cindy Schutz, Miller's daughter.

The family knew about the havoc the pandemic had wreaked on nursing home residents across the country. As Miller's fever and breathing problems persisted, she was moved to Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville where she spent several days, John Schutz said.

With tears of joy and relief in her eyes, Barbara Barnett, Scott's cousin and legal caregiver, said she feared the worst after finding out Scott had COVID-19.

"I prayed if she had to go that it wouldn't be from this thing," Barnett said. "It's a miracle of life. We could have been going to a funeral."

Donna Todd, a friend and former neighbor, said Scott was one of the first residents at Hamilton Pointe to test positive for the virus.

She attributed Scott's recovery to "good care and prayers" and a positive attitude.

"She's the most resilient person I know, even at her age," Todd said.

Leaning on her walker in the sunshine Friday, Scott waved to those gathered and paused to take in everything with an expression of happy bewilderment too big to stay hidden behind her medical mask.

Caregivers guided the three women inside to their regular rooms as the cheers and applause of staff emerged from the doorway.

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